Improvement in horse-rakes



UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE.

MOSES D. WELLS, OF MORGANTOWN, VIRGINIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-RAKES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 1,538, dated August 15', 1854.

To all whom it may concern: g

Be it known'that I, MosEs D. WELLS, of Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horse-Rakes; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, form-ing part of this speciiication, inA which- Figure lis a plan of the rake. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line :c a' of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line y y of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a plan of governing-lever inverted, showing spring-bolts.

Similar letters iu the several figures refer to the same part of the machine.

My invention consists iu the employment, in the manner hereinafter to -be described, of reverse anti-friction rollers for regulating the action of the rake-teeth.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

ln the drawings, A is the rake-shaft, attached to the shaft B by the straps a, permitting it to revolve freely.

O represents the teeth, formed and placed iu the usual manner.

D is the `governing-lever, fastened to the shaft by the strap b, and having in its under side the bolts c, attached to the springs d, as shown in Fig. 4.

Hinged to the cross-bar lo of the shafts is the notched plate It, the rear extremity of which is furnished with the rollers m n n', the former between the jaws of the notch and the last two outside of the plate. The governinglever passes through the notch q and rests on the roller m., while the rollers n and n' rest on the rear teeth of the rake, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of my improved rake is as follows: The machine is driven forward and will move on the inclined runners t, The governing-lever D, which is held lby the operator, rests on the roller m, the handle passing through the notch q, as seen in Fig. 2. The rollers a u rest on the teeth w av, so that any vertical movement of the lever D will cause a movement of the main shaft in its bea-rings anda corresponding elevation or depression of the front teeth. The rear teeth of the rake .are held up by the spring-bolts c of the govin reverse directions and a regulation of the elevation of the front teeth. This governing of the elevation of the front teeth could not be effected without the aid ot' anti-friction rollers, for if an ordinary bar crossed theteeth x a; a depression of the governing-lever would raise the shafts whenever the points ot' the front teeth were raised. This governing of the elevation of the teeth is very essential in operating ou undulating or broken ground, as there the successful operation ot the machine depends on the teeth-pain ts running the proper distance from the ground. vWhen itis desired .to discharge the accumulated hay the governing-lever D is raised, causing the rollers n a', by reason of the connection of the plate R with the shafts, to slip back over thepoints ot' the rear teeth, between which the lever D works, and permit the rake to revolve forward auddisclmrge the load, the rea-r teeth being raised by the bolts c. The revolution continues-until the former front teeth, now rea-r, press against the bottoms of the bolts c, which, yielding to the pressure by reason ot' the springs d, allow the middle teeth to pass up uutil they strike the rollers a a', when the bolts c again shoot out aud prevent the rear of the rake from falling. The rollers at n prevent the forward revolution, and the rake is again ready for use.

My improvement in the manner of supportiugthe rear of the rake `by the self-acting bolts c recommends itself for simplicity and effective operation, while the employment ot' the anti-friction rollers m a n' places the machine entirely within the control of the operator.

I am aware that various forms Aof springsire to secure by Letters Patent, is i The herein-described method of regulating the action of' the rake-teeth by the reverse anti-friction rollersV m n a', arranged and operating substantially as herein fully set-forth. In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto signed my name before two subscribing Witnesses.

Moses D. WELLS.

Witnesses:

GEO. PATTEN, JNO. OBEE. 

